Wheelchair Rugby Rules
Duration
Wheelchair rugby game is divided into four quarters of eight-minutes each. If the result is a tie overtime periods of three-minutes are played.
Additional Equipment
A manual wheelchair is used in the sport and is considered as the part of the body of an athlete.
Playing Eligibility Classification
In order to be eligible to play wheelchair rugby, the players must have a disability in the functioning of both the upper and lower limbs. The players are then classified upon the severity and level of the functional disability and are assigned with a point value ranging from 0.5 to 3.5; where .5 is the lowest and 3.5 is the highest functional level. The whole team must not exeed 8 points at any given time of the play.
Playing Rules
A team is not permitted to have more than three players in their own key while they are defending their goal line. The offending players are not allowed for more than ten seconds to remain on the opponent team’s key.
Scoring A Goal
- The team with the possession of the ball has 40 seconds to scora a goal.
- The player with the possession of the ball must not hold it for more than ten seconds without bouncing or passing it.
- To score a goal the player with the possession of the ball must not cross or touch the goal line with at least two out of the four wheels on their wheelchair.
Fouls
The fouls are penalized by one-minute penalty for defensive and technical fouls, or loss of possession for offensive fouls.
Contact
The physical contact between the wheelchairs is permitted, however, it is considered dangerous. Striking other players from the back is not allowed and direct physical contact between players is also not permitted.
